Fixation device chemical dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A surgical site chemical dispensing system for dispensing a liquid chemical agent, such as an antibiotic, anesthetic, growth factor, hormone, anti-neoplastic agent, or the like, directly onto a site of a surgical procedure. The system includes at least one bladder formed from a pair of thin sections of a flexible material to have an internal cavity that connects to an open tube wherethrough the liquid chemical agent is passed, under pressure, into the bladder. The liquid chemical agent passes, as a low volume flow, through at least one hole formed through a bladder section of material and onto the surgical procedure site. The invention includes a fixation device that includes at least one hollow pin for passing a volume of the liquid chemical agent therethrough directly into or onto a bone proximate to a fracture therein.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/514,953, filedon Aug. 14, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No.5,681,289.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to surgical devices and procedures for their usefor implanting the surgical device in a patient during a surgicalprocedure to dispense a chemical to a site of that procedure for aperiod of time thereafter.

2. Prior Art

In a surgical procedure where a part of a human body is opened and aprocedure performed thereon, it is common to apply an antibiotic,chemical deadening agent, growth stimulator, chemotherapeutic agent,radioactive isotope, or the like, onto the site of that procedure priorto closing to provide for infection control, pain control, and for otherchemically-mediated biological response. In an orthopedic surgicalprocedure it is often necessary to open the skin to a bone surface orcortex to perform a procedure, such as one involving a jointreplacement, fracture reduction, or the like, which bone site orlocation is particularly prone to infection after closure. Where suchinfection is present, often large to even massive doses of antibioticsare required to be taken, orally or by injection, to overcome suchinfection. Such doses themselves often create undesirable side effects.

The present invention, by providing for dispensing an appropriatechemical agent or agents to an actual site of such treatment, limits theamount of such chemicals as needed to overcome the infection or providetreatment, thereby minimizing the likelihood of unwanted side effects.In addition to passing an antibiotic, or like chemical, onto a surgicalsite, for infection control, or other treatment, the devices andprocedures of the invention can also be used for dispensing a localanesthetic agent, or the like, to that site, to minimize a patient'sdiscomfort during healing. Additionally, the invention can also be usedto deliver local growth factors to the site to encourage healing, orchemotherapeutic agents to destroy unwanted cells, such as cancer cells.

Certainly, applications of chemical agent onto a site of a surgicalprocedure prior to closing are not new. Also, arrangements for providinga medication conduit to a potential injection site have been in use. Forexample, an article presented in "The Journal of Arthroplasty", titled,Treatment of Acutely Infected Arthroplasty With Local Antibiotics, Vol.6, No. 2, dated June 1991, pages 179-183, sets out an implantablereservoir with a feed conduit into a surgical site is shown as havingbeen used on a number of patients. Further, such an implantablereservoir and feed conduit connecting into the vena cava has been usedas a substitute for a peripheral venous catheter to provide long terminfusion support is currently in use and is known as a porta-cath orcentral line. Such other devices and arrangements, however, unlike thepresent invention, have not involved a range of implantable devices tobe positioned directly on or closely adjacent to a site of infection,injury, or tumor, to pass a chemical agent therefrom. With the devicesor the invention and methods for their use chemical agents can bedelivered through a connecting line from a reservoir maintained at orjust below the patient's skin surface. Further, such implants, as thoseof the invention can be made to be biodegradable to be absorbed by thebody after removal of the transmission line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the present invention in a chemicaldispensing system to provide a sump or bladder that is linked by a tubeor other conduit to a reservoir to be implanted at or closely proximateto a site of a surgical procedure for dispensing a chemical agentthrough the sump or bladder to that site.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sump or bladderof a chemical dispensing system that is shaped appropriately to beimplanted between a bone surface and a prosthesis fitted thereto, orimmediately adjacent to a broken bone or injured tissue area, todispense a chemical agent thereto that is passed from a reservoir.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sump or bladderor sumps or bladders of the chemical dispensing system for installationbetween a prepared bone end and a prosthesis, such as a knee or hipprosthesis component, to dispense a chemical agent directly onto thebone surface that has been passed from a reservoir through a connectingtube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide sump or bladderhaving the shape of a prosthetic implant, such as a stem, acetabularcomponent, distal femoral knee component, or tibial tray that itself isformed to contain and dispense a chemical agent therefrom after suchagent has been passed from a reservoir through a connecting tube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sump or bladderof a chemical dispensing system that is similarly shaped to apolyethylene insert as is used in a total joint surgical procedures andis formed to contain and dispense a chemical agent therefrom that hasbeen passed from a reservoir through a connecting tube into a joint.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sump or bladderthat is arranged for fitting into to travel within and along alongitudinal passage an intramedullary rod or nail that is for insertioninto a patient's intramedullary canal to a location that is opposite toa bone fracture whereat, by operation of a subcutaneous pump, a chemicalagent is passed into the area of the bone break.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a chemicalagent dispensing pump and sleeve arrangement as part of an externalfixation device for use for pinning to sections of a bone adjacent to abone fracture and for maintaining the mechanical stability of thatfracture and to pass a chemical agent into the bone during healing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sump orbladder as a part of an implant device, such as a penile implant to be apart thereof and is connected through a tube to a reservoir and pump forpassing a chemical agent to that implant to ward off infection duringthe healing process or to treat an infection that has developed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sump orbladder or sumps and bladders with connecting tube or tubes, reservoirand pump whereby chemical agents can be delivered to a site to eitherencourage cell growth or to destroy undesirable cells, such as tumorcells.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a number ofcombinations of sump or bladder or sumps or bladders, with a connectingtube or tubes, reservoir and pump as a chemical dispensing system whereall or some of the implanted components can be formed of a biodegradablematerial to remain in and be absorbed by the body after healing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a chemicaldispensing system that is conveniently installed in a patient along witha prosthesis or appliance to provide a controlled flow of a chemicalagent, such as an antibiotic that may be a powerful antibiotic, such asgentamicin that, when administered conventionally such as by IV dosing,may cause an adverse reaction to a patient's kidneys or ears at highdosages, where, by delivery directly to the site of the surgicalprocedure an infection can be effectively treated without threat to thehealth of the patient's organs, or the like.

Principal features of the invention include a sump or bladder having oneor more drip holes formed therein. The sump or bladder is cut or shaped,in several embodiments, to fit between a prepared bone end or sectionand a prosthesis fitted thereon. The sump or bladder is connected by atube to a reservoir and pump arrangement. The reservoir and pump may bean implantable needle injection port, an exterior pump, or the like. Forthe needle injection port, a surgeon fits a hypodermic needle throughthe patient's skin into the implanted port and reservoir and, byoperating the hypodermic plunger, forces a chemical agent through thetube and out of the sump or bladder hole or holes. Such chemical agentcan be an antibiotic, a local anesthetic type chemical, degradativeenzyme, growth stimulator, chemotherapeutic agent, radio active isotope,or the like, within the scope of this disclosure.

Alternative, the sump or bladder can be for fitting in an intramedullaryrod or nail that includes a longitudinal cavity or slot, such that anopening or openings in the sump or bladder will align with the openingin the rod. The sump or bladder is designed for travel along the nail tobe opposite to a bone fracture for the purpose of delivering a chemicalagent from the sump or bladder through the longitudinal cavity or slotto the surrounding bone. To provide chemicals for this delivery the sumpor bladder is connected through a tube to a reservoir and pumparrangement.

Further to the invention, a sump or bladder includes a hole or spacedholes therein formed to have a diameter to accommodate a chemical agentdrip therethrough, which sump or bladder is shaped for inclusion with animplant device, such as a penile implant. Such bladder also connectsthrough a tube to a reservoir and pump arrangement, that may be ahypodermic needle receiving port and reservoir for implanting in apatent, or the like, to pass a chemical agent, such as an antibiotic,topical anesthetic, other chemical agents, or the like, into the sump orbladder to be dispersed into the tissue at the implant site.

The bladder of the chemical dispensing system of the invention can bearranged to be removable after use, or all or parts thereof may beformed of a biodegradable material to stay in the patient after healingand be absorbed by the body. In such biodegradable sump or bladder, thetube is preferably connected to be pulled therefrom along with thereservoir and removed, leaving the biodegradable sump or bladder inplace.

THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the invention in a chemicaldispensing system will become more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that arepresently regarded as presenting the best modes for carrying out theinvention:

FIG. 1 is bottom plan perspective view of a tibial sump or bladdercomponent and connected tube of a chemical dispensing system of theinvention that is for fitting between a prepared proximal tibia surfaceand a tibial component of a knee prosthesis;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan perspective view of a pair of femoral sump orbladder components and connected tubes of a chemical dispensing systemof FIG. 1 that are for fitting between prepared distal femur surfacesand sections of a femoral component of a knee prosthesis;

FIG. 3 is a profile sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a profile sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation perspective view of a patients knee whereto aknee prosthesis has been fitted after the distal femur and proximaltibia have been shaped appropriately and showing the tibial sump orbladder component of FIG. 1 in broken lines positioned between theproximal tibia prepared end and tibia component of the prosthesis, andshowing the pair of femoral sumps or bladders of FIG. 2 in broken linesfitted between the prepared distal femur end and the femoral componentof the prosthesis;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a patient's hip and femur proximalend that has been cut and shaped to receive a stem portion of a hipprosthesis, and showing a broken away portion of the hip as a seat for aball end of the prosthesis, and showing a cup shaped sump or bladderhaving holes formed therein that is arranged between the seat and hipbone with a tubular sump or bladder shown fitted alongside theprosthesis stem and against the bone surface in the femoral medullarychannel and showing tubes connecting to which sumps or bladders and to areservoir and pump arrangement;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a shaft that is bent from thevertical at a top section and includes a fitting in its top end thatconnects, to pass fluid, into a shaft longitudinal passage thatintersects with a number of spaced transverse passages;

FIG. 9 shows the shaft of FIG. 8 fitted into the tibia medullary channeland extending across a broken section thereof and showing a tubeconnected to the top fitting;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken within the line 10--10 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of an embodiment an intramedullary nailthat is open longitudinally and includes a longitudinal slot therein,and showing a cylindrical sump or bladder with a plurality of holesformed therein that connect on a upper end to a tube that is fittedthrough a hole formed through the nail wall;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 12--12 of FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevation perspective view of a section ofthe intramedullary nail of FIG. 11 showing the sump or bladder fittedtherein and showing a number of spaced vertical holes formed through thenail lobes;

FIG. 14 is a profile perspective view of a patient's lower leg showingtheir tibia as broken with posts of a fracture fixation device shownfitted through their skin and turned into the tibia, above and below thebreak, which posts are shown to have holes formed therein proximate totheir ends with tubes fitted onto which posts that connect through linesto an external reservoir and pump;

FIG. 14A shows an enlarged view of a tube with threaded end of thefracture fixation device of FIG. 14 removed therefrom;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a section of a patient's proximalfemur whose end has been removed for receiving a temporary hipprosthesis and showing a stem thereof that has had a section removed toexpose a hollow interior, showing a number of spaced holes formedtherein, and showing an acetabular component mounted in the lip that isalso hollow and includes a number of holes formed therein and showingtubes connected to pass a chemical agent into the hollow stem andacetabular member;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a general outline of a patient'spenis and scrotum showing a penile implant therein extending the lengththereof that includes a number of longitudinally spaced holes and isconnected through a tube to a reservoir and showing a hypodermic needleas a pump; and

FIG. 17 is a graph comparing the blood levels present in sheep over timeof the antibiotic Gentamicin administered by IV dose, cement dose, anddevice dose, in a sheep study.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a practice of surgical procedures where a component or device ordevices are installed in a human body, the occurrence of an infection atthe site of such procedure is a serious complication. In the past, toeradicate bacterial infections, the patient has often been treated withlarge doses of antibiotics by mouth or injection. Such treatmentsthemselves have often had serious side effects with such treatmentsometimes being unsuccessful and requiring that the site be reopened andtreated. The present invention provides a system of variousconfigurations of a sump or bladder that is shaped to fit between aprosthesis and bone surface or is to be positioned adjacent to a bone ortrauma site that is involved in a surgical procedure. Thereat, theindividual sump or bladder is then used to dispense an antibiotic orlike chemical agent through holes or pores formed therein. The chemicalagent is delivered to the sump or bladder through a tube that passesunder the patient's skin and connects to a reservoir with a pumparrangement. With the system installed, a surgeon or other medicalpractitioner can pass, from or through the reservoir, a measured flow ofa chemical agent directly to the surgical site, thereby medicating onlythe area of concern rather than the whole body. Such treatment increasesthe effectiveness of such medication, decreases the potential forunwanted side effects and minimizes the likelihood of infection, and isuseful to quickly control any infection as develops. Additionally,within the scope of this disclosure, the system can be employed fordispensing other liquid chemical agents to a surgical site, such as achemical agent for controlling pain, chemical agents to degradebacterial cells, chemical agents to stimulate growth, or chemical agentsto kill unwanted cells, such as tumor cells.

In FIG. 5 is shown a distal femur 11 and proximal tibia 12 of apatient's knee 10. Which distal femur and proximal tibia are shown ashaving been shaped, as by sawing off sections from the femoral condylesand the proximal tibial plateau, shown as surfaces 11a and 12a,respectively, that are to receive, respectively, a femoral component 13and a tibial component 14 of a prosthetic knee, that is secured toprepared surfaces 11a and 12a. During which prosthesis componentmounting, sumps or bladders 15 and 16 of the chemical dispensing systemof the invention, shown also in FIGS. 1 through 4, are arranged betweenthe respective bone ends 11a and 12a and the prosthetic undersurfaces,as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5.

The sumps or bladders 15, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, are a pair ofessentially identical flat sleeves 17 that each have top and bottomsections 18a and 18b, respectively that are joined along their outeredges 19 as by heat welding, an adhesive bonding, or the like. Both thebladders 15 are closed at their forward ends 20, shown herein as pointedends, and are necked into a sleeve 21 in their rear ends. The top andbottom sections 18a and 18b are shown in FIG. 4 as formed from a thinplastic material that is preferably biodegradable to be absorbed by thebody during the healing process. For which manufacture any number ofbiocompatible materials such as silicone, polyurathane or polylacticacid can be used satisfactorily for both of the bladders 15 and 16 aswell as the other flexible sump or bladder arrangements as set outhereinbelow.

Shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the sumps or bladders 15 top section 18a,which is the surface that is in contact with the prosthesisundersurface, is a flat section with no holes therein. Additionally, aprosthesis itself can be formed to contain the sump or bladder, withinthe scope of this invention. For the sump or bladder 15, the bottomsection 18b includes a number of spaced holes 22 formed therein that areof a size to dispense a slow flow of a chemical agent therethrough, thatchemical agent bleeding onto the prepared bone surface 11a. Which holes22 of the sump or bladder 15 and the other sumps or bladders of theother embodiments, to provide such slow flow are formed to allow thechemical agent introduced into the sumps or bladders 15 to flowthroughout the cavity to be dispensed over most if not all of the boneend surface 11a.

To provide for passing a chemical agent, which may be an antibiotic,pain inhibiting chemical, chemical agent to degrade bacterial cells,chemical agents to stimulate growth, or chemical agent to kill unwantedcells, such as tumor cells,or the like, or a combination thereof, intothe sumps or bladders 15, the sleeve 21 end thereof receives an end 23aof a tube 23 fitted therein. Which tube 23, as shown in FIG. 4, ispreferably formed from a plastic material that is flexible. The tubes 23that extend from each sump or bladder 15, as shown best in FIG. 2, arejoined at a Y junction 24 into a single tube 25 that is preferably alsoformed from a flexible plastic material. The tube 25 provides forpassing a chemical agent from a reservoir and pump arrangement, as setout and described hereinbelow. Also, to facilitate maintaining the sumpsor bladders 15 to the prepared distal femur surfaces, holes 26 areprovided at spaced intervals along the edges 19 through which a suturemay be passed in order to anchor the device in place on the bone surface11a.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show the sump or bladder 16 arranged between the tibialprosthesis component 14 and the prepared flat end surface 12a of theproximal tibia 12 shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. The sump or bladder16, like the sumps and bladders 15 described above, is preferably formedby joining top and bottom sections 30a and 30b, that are essentiallyovals, and are joined around their edges 31. Shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, aportion of edge 31 is formed into a sleeve 32 that, like sleeve 21 ofthe sumps or bladders 15, is for receiving an end 33a of a tube 33fitted therein, as shown best in FIG. 3, that extends from the proximalfemur surface 41. The tube 33 like tube 23 is for passing a chemicalagent into the annular space between the top and bottom sections 30a and30b. Also, like the bottom section 18b of the sumps or bladders 15, thebottom section 30b that, as shown in FIG. 5, is positioned opposite tothe proximal tibial flat surface 12a and includes a number of spacedholes 34, shown in FIG. 3, formed therein. The holes 34 are preferablylike the described holes 22 and are for passing a low volume flow of achemical agent therethrough onto the bone surface 12a. Which chemicalagent will have traveled through the tube 33 from a reservoir and pumparrangement, as set out and discussed hereinbelow. Further, like theholes 26 formed at spaced intervals in the edge 19 of the sumps orbladders 15, the edge 31 of the sump or bladder 16 preferably alsoincludes spaced holes 35 formed therealong. The holes 35, like holes 26,are for passage of a suture, or the like, therein in the process offitting the sump or bladder 16 onto the bone surface 12a, as discussedwith respect to the sumps or bladders 15.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 are shown another arrangement of a chemical dispensingsystem of the invention for use as a replacement prosthesis in a totalhip replacement procedure where a patient's hip socket and ball end oftheir proximal femur are replaced with a prosthesis. To provide forinstalling the prosthesis the femur 40, at its proximal end, has itshead and neck removed along a line between the greater and lessertrochanters, leaving a surface 41, and exposing the intramedullary canal42. Shown in broken lines, the intramedullary canal 42 is preparedadjacent to the surface 41 and therealong, as by appropriate shaping, toreceive a femoral component 43 of a hip prosthesis fitted therein.

Shown in FIG. 6, the femoral component 43 includes a body portion 44with a stem 45 extending therefrom, shown in broken lines, that arefitted in the prepared intramedullary canal 42 end exposed in thesurface 41. The femoral component 43 further includes a neck section 46that extends outwardly from a surface of the body portion 44. The necksection 46 mounts to a hemispherical section 47 as a ball end thereofthat is for fitting into a concave depression on socket 49 formed in thehip 48, as set out below. The portion of intramedullary canal 42adjacent to the stem 45, and the stem surface, as appropriate, areformed to accommodate a sump or bladder 50, shown in broken line, fittedalongside the stem 45. The sump or bladder 50 is preferably a tube thatis formed of a thin flexible biocompatible material, and, like the sumpsand bladders 15 and 16, is possibly formed from a biocompatible orbiodegradable material to be absorbed by the human body over time. Thesump or bladder 50 is closed across a lower end 51 and includes a numberof spaced holes formed therein that are of a diameter to accommodate alow volume passage of a liquid chemical agent passed into the tubethrough a neck end 52 whereto is fitted a tube 53. Such chemical agentis passed through the tube 53 from a reservoir and pump arrangement, asset out below.

A chemical agent, as for example, an antibiotic, topically appliedanesthetic and/or the like, or a combination thereof, can, atappropriate time intervals, as selected by a surgeon/operator, be passedinto the sump or bladder 50 to travel into the adjacent bone material.Similarly, the concave cavity 49 that is formed into the patient'spelvis 48, and replaces their acetabulum, receives an acetabular cupcomponent 53 secured in the concave depression 49. The cup component 53is to receive the hemispherical section 47 secured to the neck 46 seatedtherein. For the invention, a cup component sump or bladder 54 isprovided that includes a center cavity 56, shown as a space between anouter surface 55 and an inner surface 55a, shown in broken lines. Largeholes 57 are provided through both the outer and inner surfaces forreceiving fasteners, not shown, such as screws or sutures, that havebeen passed through the cup component 53 for mounting the component inthe concave depression 49. The small holes 58 are shown formed throughthe outer surface 55 that, like the holes formed through the sump orbladder 50, are for slowly passing a chemical agent introduced from thecenter cavity 56 into the surrounding bone material of the hip 48. Topass such chemical agent into the cavity 56 the cup component sump orbladder 54 includes a neck 59 which extends beyond the hip bone surfaceand receives a tube 60 connected thereto. The tubes 53 and 60 are shownbroken with a single tube 61 extending from a junction of which tubes 53and 60, which tube 61 connects to a reservoir and pump arrangement,shown at 62 and described later herein, 62 for passing a chemical agenttherefrom, as set out below.

It should, however, be understood that the necks 52 and 59 of therespective tube 50 and cup component sump or bladder 54 are preferablyarranged to allow for release of the tubes 53 and 60, allowing them tobe pulled out of the patient after healing. Accordingly, it should beunderstood, the described cup component sump or bladder 54 is preferablyformed from a thin biocompatible material for positioning between aconventional acetabular cup component of a hip prosthesis and the bonesurface of the concave depression 49 formed in the hip 48 to functionlike the sumps or bladders 15 and 16 set out and described above. Whichmaterial, like that utilized for bladders 15 and 16, is potentiallybiodegradable to be absorbed by the body in the healing process.

FIGS. 1 and 6 show an embodiment of a reservoir and pump 62 that, asshown also in FIG. 14, may, like the reservoir 150 set and describedhereinbelow with respect to FIG. 16, be arranged as an external deviceon a fixation device 120. Shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the reservoir and pump62 include a housing 140, shown as having a flattened cone shape thatcontains a center cavity, not shown, and maintains a piston 142 slidablyfitted in the center cavity. The piston is arranged to move up and downtherein opposed by a spring biasing, not shown, to apply positivepressure to a fluid contained in which center cavity. The pumping actionis provided by an operator, not shown, pushing a top surface 143 ofwhich piston 142. The housing 140 is formed into a neck 144 extendingoutwardly from a point along its lower edge and ends in a sleeve 145.The sleeve 145 receives the tube 61 fitted therein for transferring thechemical agent into lines 53 and 60, as described above.

As an alternative to the sumps or bladders for use with the componentsof a hip prosthesis, as described above, FIG. 15 shows an embodiment ofa chemical dispensing system for use as a temporary hip prosthesis fortemporary placement in the patient's proximal femur 40 and hip 48, asshown in FIG. 6, to deliver a chemical agent into the surgical site toeradicate a bacterial infection whereafter the temporary hip prosthesisof FIGS. 15 is replaced with a permanent prosthesis. Like a fitting ofthe prosthesis of FIG. 6, the patient's proximal femur, as shown, willhave been cut to have flat surface 41 and has had its intramedullarycanal 42 shaped to receive, fitted therein, a stem 70 of a femoralcomponent 68 of the temporary hip prosthesis. The femoral component 68includes a body 69 wherefrom a neck 72 extends that mounts ahemispherically shaped ball end 73. Unique to the femoral component 68is that it is formed, as shown in a broken away portion to have a hollowcompartment formed adjacent to its outer surface that includes an numberof spaced small diameter holes 72 formed through the stem 70 thereof.The holes 72 are of a diameter to provide a low volume flow of achemical agent under pressure therethrough, functioning like the holesformed through the above described sumps or bladders, to dispense aliquid chemical agent onto a bone material.

Like the femoral component 68, the temporary hip prosthesis of FIG. 15includes, a temporary acetabular member 75, that is for fitting in thecup 49 formed in the hip bone 48, and is formed to dispense a chemicalagent therefrom into the bone material of cup 49. Accordingly, theacetabular member 75 includes outer and inner surfaces 76 and 76a,respectively, with a space or cavity 77 formed therein adjacent to theouter surface 76. As shown, the outer surface 76 includes a number ofspaced small diameter holes 78 formed therethrough. The holes 78, likeholes 72 of the temporary femoral member 68, are for passing a lowvolume of a liquid chemical agent therethrough.

To provide a flow of the liquid chemical agent to the respectivetemporary component 68 and member 75, each includes a portal 68a and75a, respectively, whereto tubes 79 and 80, respectively, are connected.The tubes 79 and 80 are joined into a single tube 82 at a Y junction 81.The tube 82, in turn, may be connected to a reservoir and pumparrangement 62, as shown in FIG. 6, or to the reservoir and pump 150 ofFIG. 16, within the scope of this disclosure, for passing a flow of aselected chemical agent therefrom.

Additional embodiments of chemical dispensing systems that are for usein other orthopedic surgical procedures, are shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.Therein, a chemical agent dispensing rod or nail 85 is shown positionedin an intramedullary canal of a bone, across a fracture therein. A sumpor bladder 100 is provided for fitting in the nail's longitudinal cavity88, to be opposite to the site of the fracture shown in FIGS. 9 and 10as bone fragments 97. Further, another embodiment of a nail 105 that isfor use like the nail 85, of FIG. 9, is shown in FIGS. 11 through 13.Which nails 85 and 105, as described below, each provide for dispensinga chemical agent passed thereto to the bone fracture from a reservoirand pump arrangement, as described above.

FIG. 8 shows nail 85 formed from a solid rod section 86 and is bent fromits longitudinal axis at 87. Which bend 87, as shown in FIG. 9 is toconform to the shape of a intramedullary canal 96 of a tibia 95 that hasbeen reamed out therealong, as necessary, to accommodate the nail 85fitted therein. Though, it should be understood, a nail like nail 85 ofan appropriate geometrical design could similarly be used to fit in theintramedullary canal of the femur or humerus, within the scope of thisdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 8, the nail 85 includes a center longitudinal cavity 88and is bent at 88a proximate to its proximal end, to accommodate andallow for passage of a bladder 100, when such is used, as shown in FIG.10, fitted therethrough. The cavity 88 connects, at its proximal end toa fitting 89 and is closed at 88b above the nail distal end. A number oftransverse holes 90 are formed through the nail that are parallel andspaced apart along the nail midsection and pass through the nail cavity88. Accordingly, without bladder 100 fitted therein, when a liquidchemical agent is passed through a tube 91 that connects to the fitting89, that fluid will pass directly out of the transverse holes 90 andinto the surrounding bone material.

FIG. 9 shows the nail 85 as spanning a fracture in the bone 95, withseveral bone pieces 97, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, at the fracturelocation. So arranged, it may be desirable to confine dispensing of thechemical agent, that can be an antibiotic, topical anesthetic, growthagent, or the like, or a combination of chemical agents, into the areaof the fracture only. To so direct a flow of chemical agent into thefracture, FIG. 9 shows a preferred location of the bladder 100, and FIG.10 shows the bladder 100 arranged in the nail cavity 88 such that it isopposite to the fracture after it has been slid therealong. Whichbladder 100, as shown, for maintaining it at its location, may includean upper plug portion 101 that is effectively a sleeve 101 with a centerwall 102 arranged across which sleeve enclosing the space therebetween.A wall 102a of sleeve 101, below an end 101a thereof, that connects tothe center wall 102 to complete the cavity such that an open centerlongitudinal space 103 is opposite to the fracture. The space 103, asshown, terminates in a bulbus end 103a that will expand to engage andseal against the nail cavity 88 wall when fluid, under pressure, ispassed thereto. Further, to guide travel of the bladder along the nailcavity 88, a pointed end 104 is preferably provided as the bladderdistal end. The bladder walls 102 and 102a, and end 104, as shown, arepreferably formed of a biocompatible material, with the holes 105 formedthrough which walls 102 and 102a of a diameter to pass a low volume flowof a liquid chemical agent therethrough that travels into the nail'stransverse holes 90 and out into the site of the fracture, shown as bonefragments 97.

Shown in FIG. 10, with an introduction of a liquid chemical agent from areservoir and pump arrangement through tube 91 and into the bladder 100,the center wall 102 will flex outwardly, illustrated by arrow A, toengage and seal against the opposing inner wall of sleeve 101. Whichsleeve 101 outer surface will itself be urged outwardly sealing againstthe nail cavity 88 wall, prohibiting a flow of the chemical agenttherebetween. So arranged, with the bulbus end 103 expanded, asdescribed above, seals off the bladder lower end to the nail cavity 88wall, and with the expanded sleeve 101 sealing against the nail cavitywall thereabove. The cavity formed by the center wall 102 and sleevewall extension 102a thereby contains the chemical agent under pressure.So arranged, the holes 105 through the sleeve wall extension 102adirects the flow of chemical agent through the nail transverse holes 90that are opposite to the area of the fracture, shown at 97.

It should, however, be understood that a sump or bladder 100 without theupper plug portion 101, center wall 102 and bulbus end 103a and pointedend 104 could be employed to travel into the nail cavity 88 to dispensea liquid chemical agent into the fracture, within the scope of thisdisclosure. Also, it should be understood, the above describedarrangements could be employed with tibial, femoral and humeral nails,within the scope of this disclosure except that the geometry of theparticular nail would influence the sump or bladder configuration.Additionally, to provide for closing off the nail cavity 88 below thesump or bladder lower end, a spacer 100a, shown in FIG. 10, can befitted into the nail cavity 88 to be just below a fracture site when thenail is fitted into the patient's intramedullary canal.

Another embodiment of a sump or bladder 110 of the invention fordispensing a liquid chemical agent into a section of bone material isshown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. As with the above described sump orbladder 100, the sump or bladder 110 is for use with an intramedullarynail 105, shown herein as a conventional intermedullary nail, that isbent from the vertical at 106, has a clover leaf cross section, is openlongitudinally at 107, and includes a straight longitudinal slot 108formed therein. Further, as shown in a nail embodiment of FIG. 13, thelobes of the clover leaf cross section, at a location therealong thatwill be adjacent to a bone fracture 85a preferably include a number ofspaced holes 109 formed therethrough.

An introduction of a chemical agent 111, under pressure, into bladder110, as shown in FIG. 12, causes a flow, shown as drops 111, of thechemical agent, to pass through a hole 112 in which bladder 110 andtravels through the longitudinal slot 107 onto the bone 85 at break 85a.Alternatively, for the arrangement of FIG. 13, where the nail 105 lobesinclude holes 109, the bladder 110 preferably includes a number ofspaced holes 112 formed therein. The spaced holes 112 provide forpassing the liquid chemical agent therethrough and out of the nail holes109 to coat the bone surface around the nail 105, functioning like thenail and sump or bladder arrangement of FIGS. 8 through 10.

Optionally, like sump or bladder 100 described above with respect toFIG. 10, the sump or bladder 110 may include an arrangement for sealingthe top and bottom thereof within the nail longitudinal cavity forcontaining the flow of chemical agent to a desired bone site orlocation. To this end, as shown in FIG. 13, the sump or bladder 110includes a pointed distal end 113, that may appear like and functionlike the sump or bladder end 104, as described above. Also, to providefor sealing the sump or bladder top or proximal end within the naillongitudinal cavity, an expanding collar 114 may be included around thebladder top end that has a capability for expanding into engagement withthe longitudinal cavity wall. The sump or bladder 110 can thereby besealed at an appropriate location along the nail 105. Also, prior tofitting the sump or bladder 110 into the nail 105, as shown, a spacer,as described above but not shown, can be fitted there for blocking offthe nail cavity above the fracture to direct the liquid chemical agentflow into that fracture.

FIG. 14 shows still another arrangement of a chemical dispensing systemthat is incorporated into a fracture external fixation device 120,hereinafter referred to as fixation device. Fixation device 120 is foruse in maintaining the positioning of ends of a bone 85 such that endsof a fracture 85a therein are maintained together. The fixation device120 of the invention provides for immobilizing the bone 85 duringhealing and additionally provides for dispensing a chemical agent, asdescribed above with respect to the other described embodiment of thechemical dispensing system, into and onto the bone above and below thefracture 85a. As with like conventional fracture fixation devices, thefixation device 120 includes a pair of blocks 121a and 121b that mountto ends of a rod 122. Preferably, the distance between the blocks 121aand 121b is adjustable, and accordingly, the rod 122 is shown to bethreaded for turning into or out of threaded holes formed through whichblocks. Or, within the scope of this disclosure, another arrangement foradjusting the spacing distance could be utilized. Also, within the scopeof this disclosure, the described arrangement could be employed withanother fracture fixation device, such as an Ilizarov type externalfixation device, or the like.

A pin 123, that is shown in use in FIG. 14 and has been removed out froma block and enlarged in FIG. 14A, is provided for fitting through a holein a block 121a and 121b, each pin to be parallel to the other pin andat a right angle to the rod 122. Each pin 123 is for fitting through ablock and locking therein, as by turning a set screw through a blockwall to engage the pin side, not shown, or other like arrangement can beso used. A screw end 124a is formed as a forward end thereof of each pin123 that is for fitting through an incision in the patient's skin 85band turning into the bone 85, as shown in FIG. 14. So arranged, the pins123 maintained in the blocks 121a and 121b hold the bone ends at break85a together during healing. To discourage an occurrence of infectionduring which healing, to treat an established infection, or to promotebone healing, the invention provides for dispensing a chemical agent,such as an antibiotic, or growth factors, or the like, throughlongitudinal passages 125 of a cylindrical body 124 of each pin, shownin broken lines in FIG. 14A, through an axial hole 125a pin body screwend 124a and/or out transverse holes 125b formed through the screw end124a, and travels into and onto bone 85, above and below the break 85a.

To provide for passing a chemical agent through each pin body 124, a pinbody end 124b opposite to its screw end 124a, as shown in FIG. 14,receives an end of a tube 126 fitted thereon whose opposite end connectsinto a pump and reservoir 127 to receive a flow of a selected chemicalagent therefrom. Which pump and reservoir 127 is like the described pumpand reservoir 62 of FIG. 6 or may be the pump and reservoir 150 of FIG.16, and reference is hereby made to the discussion of which pump andreservoirs 62 and 150 set out below.

FIG. 16 shows still another arrangement of a chemical dispensing systemof the invention that is for arrangement with a penile implant 130. Thepenile implant 130, as shown, is for fitting into an incision made in apatient's penis 129 during a surgical procedure thereon. Which penileimplant 130 is essentially a balloon 131 that is fitted into alongitudinal cavity formed in the patient's penis 129 and connects, at aneck end 131a, to a hose or tube 132 that extends out from the penis andconnects to a bulb type air or fluid pump 133, or the like. In use, apatient wishing to erect his penis fills the balloon 131 with air orfluid by squeezing the bulb pump 133 between his fingers, filling theballoon.

As with the other surgical procedures practiced, as described aboverelative to the other Figures, post surgical infection is also a seriousproblem in a penile implant procedure. To discourage such infection orto treat an established infection, a sump or bladder 134 of theinvention is attached to the balloon 131, along the length thereof, thatincludes a number of longitudinally spaced holes 135 wherethrough achemical agent will pass at a low volume flow rate into the tissuearound the implant. As with the earlier described sumps or bladders ofthe invention, the sump or bladder 134 has a cavity therein and issecured to an end of a tube 136 at a neck end 134a thereof. Which tube136 connects on one end to the neck end 134a and has its other endfitted to a reservoir and pump 150, that is another embodiment of areservoir and pump arrangement for use with the invention, and isdescribed in more detail hereinbelow. It should, however, be understoodthat the reservoir and pump arrangement 150, and the earlier describedreservoir and pump arrangement 62, are examples only of apparatus forpassing a liquid chemical agent to a sump and bladder arrangements, asset out herein, and that other reservoir and pump arrangements could beso utilized within the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 16 show reservoir and pump 150 as an implantable device having abody 151 that has a cavity therein, not shown, that is disposed below apad 152 formed as a body top surface. The pad 152 is preferably formedfrom a section of a rubber, or like material, to pass and seal around aneedle 154 of a hypodermic 153, and to reseal when the needle isremoved. In practice, a pressurized flow of a liquid chemical agent ispassed through tube 136 that connects through a sleeve 157 of a neck 156formed in the body 151 to the cavity. A surgeon/operator inserts theneedle 154 pointed end through the pad 152 and into the cavity that mayalready have a volume of the liquid chemical agent therein. Thereafter,by depressing the hypodermic 153 plunger, not shown, a flow of theliquid chemical agent is passed in the cavity, urging a flow of theliquid chemical agent therefrom that passes through the tube 136 to thesump or bladder 134, as described above.

Hereinabove have been set out a number of different arrangements ofchemical dispensing systems that each include at least one sump orbladder formed to be positioned immediately adjacent to a site of asurgical procedure. Each sump or bladder is provided for dispensing alow volume flow of a chemical agent that it receives into the sitethrough a tube that extends from the sump or bladder and connects to areservoir and pump arrangement. Common to the different sump or bladderarrangements, as set out herein, is that each includes a vessel thatcontains a cavity with holes formed through a vessel surface to pass alow volume flow of a liquid chemical agent. Which sump or bladder can beformed for fitting between a prepared bone end and a prosthesiscomponent, as for example, a knee prosthesis component, is preferablyformed from a flexible material to be flat and may be formed from amaterial to be absorbed by the body during healing.

FIG. 17 summarizes the results of an animal study conducted on six (6)sheep to compare presence in each animal's blood of an effective buthighly toxic antibiotic, Gentamicin, that, as shown, was administeredintravenously, as mixed with polymethylmethacrylate applied onto aprepared bone surface, and utilizing the present invention. Gentamicinis a powerful and very effective antibiotic which has been routinelyused in a systemic fashion, usually through IV dosing, but is,unfortunately, a highly toxic drug to several systems in the body,specifically the kidneys and ears. As such, its use is limited byconsiderations for adverse reactions. Accordingly, Gentamicin was aexcellent antibiotic to study for determining how the systemic bloodlevels of the drug varied with different dosing techniques.

From the graph of FIG. 17, it is clear that the sheep who received IVdosing had widely varying blood levels of Gentamicin presence. Suchwould also produce wide variations in concentration in the kidneys andear as could lead to complications. Whereas, the consistently low bloodlevels of Gentamicin shown in the sheep that received the same dosage ofGentamicin utilizing the chemical dispensing system of the inventionshow that very little of the Gentamicin passed out of the muscle andbone into the circulatory system, which amount that did escape would notproduce a toxic dose to either the kidneys or ears. Similarly, the sheepwho received Gentamicin by incorporating it into bone cement that wasthen placed in the joint registered no active Gentamicin in theircirculatory system and were accordingly graphed as part of the graphX-axis.

Additional to the presence of Gentamicin in the animals blood, anotherconcern of the study was to demonstrate that Gentamicin deliveredlocally, as provided by the present invention, would diffuse from thesite of the injection into the surrounding tissue in a timely andeffective manner. To document diffusion, a radionuclide solution wasmixed with a dose of Gentamicin that was delivered locally. A bone scanwas conducted three hours after the dose was given into the knee. Thebone scan showed a zone of diffusion that measured to sixteen (16)centimeters from top to bottom by thirteen (13) centimeters from frontto back. To further document that the Gentamicin had indeed spread fromthe joint into surrounding tissues, a biopsy sample was taken from amuscle that was six (6) centimeters from the joint line (the site ofdelivery). This tissue was taken from the same location in each of thesheep samples. Each muscle was then weighed and one hundred twenty (120)grams of its was diluted with a twenty eight percent (28%) salinesolution by weight and was liquified in a blender. The resulting fluidwas then tested for Gentamicin levels. Even though the Gentamicin wasdiluted significantly by the saline, tissue concentrations were stillfound to be ten point five (10.5) micrograms/ml and five point nine(5.9) micrograms/ml respectively in the sheep whose Gentamicin wasdelivered with the present invention. Which concentrations areconsidered to be therapeutic doses of Gentamicin. The sheep thatreceived intravenous Gentamicin and Gentamicin mixed in bone cement hastissue concentrations of Gentamicin of zero micrograms/ml.

From the results of the three studies set out above, it is clear thatthe chemical dispensing system of the invention is an extremelyeffective system for delivering Gentamicin to a site of infection. Fromthe data, it is clear that delivery by the present invention createsvery high concentrations of antibiotic in a defined region, and thatmost of the antibiotic will remain in the local area with very littleescaping into the animals' central circulation as could produce adverseeffects elsewhere in the body. It is believed, based on the results setout above, that these results would likely be duplicated with any otherliquid medication as the present invention is suitable for use with.

While preferred embodiments of our invention in a chemical dispensingsystem and its use have been shown and described herein, it should,however, be understood that the present disclosure is made by way ofexample only and that variations to the embodiments as described arepossible within the scope of this disclosure without departing from thesubject matter coming within the scope of the following claims and areasonable equivalency thereof, which claims we regard as our invention.

We claim:
 1. A chemical dispensing system to provide a low volume flowof a chemical agent to a surgical site comprising, a bladder meanshaving a cavity therein that is closed at a distal end and attached atits proximal end to one end of an open tube means, which said bladdermeans includes at least one hole formed through at least one bladdersurface into said cavity that is of a diameter to pass a low volume flowof a chemical agent therethrough; and a means connected to said opentube for supplying a flow of said chemical agent into said open tube topass into said bladder means cavity wherein the bladder means is formedas a longitudinal cavity in at least one straight pin of an externalfracture fixation device that includes said straight pin that is forfitting through at least one block means to extend at a right angle froma block means surface, said straight pin including a screw formed as itsdistal end for turning into bone material with at least one hole formedthrough said screw and said screw proximal end is open and receives theend of said open tube fitted thereto.
 2. A chemical dispensing system asrecited in claim 1, wherein a pair of straight pins are employed withthe external fracture fixation device that are for individual fittingthrough a pair of block means; and rod means for fitting to each blockmeans for adjusting and maintaining the spacing distance between saidblock means.
 3. A chemical dispensing system as recited in claim 2,wherein the rod means is a threaded rod arranged for turning intoaligned threaded holes formed in each of said block means.
 4. A chemicaldispensing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for supplyinga flow of a liquid chemical agent into the open tube is a body having acavity therein that is open into a neck means for coupling to an end ofsaid open tube; and means for passing said liquid chemical agent, underpressure, into said body cavity.
 5. A chemical dispensing system asrecited in claim 4, wherein the means for passing the liquid chemicalagent, under pressure, into the body cavity is a pump means connectedinto said body cavity to be manually operated to apply a pressure to avolume of said liquid chemical agent contained in said body cavity.
 6. Achemical dispensing system as recited in claim 4, wherein the means forpassing the liquid chemical agent, under pressure, into the body cavityis a hypodermic having a hollow needle with a pointed end; and amembrane is arranged in the body across an opening into the body cavitythat the needle pointed end is passed through, the membrane to sealaround said needle, and to reseal itself when said needle is withdrawn.